Behind the scenes look into the weird world of fetish parties from Tokyo to Berlin by artist MagLau

The photographer said he was always looking for 'beauty in the dark side'

Pictured

By BRITTANY VONOW

15th October 2016, 7:54 am

Updated: 20th February 2017, 6:41 pm

THE underbelly of fetish parties has been exposed in startling photographs captured by Belgian photographer MagLau.

The photographer dedicated three years to capturing the obsession with leather and chains, visiting fetish parties through Europe and Japan.

MagLau

MagLau visited fetish parties across Europe and Japan to capture the black and white images

MagLau

People's obsession with bondage, leather and chains was explored in the new book

The photographer told Feature Shoot: "I just took pictures, always finding some beauty in the dark side."

He said that most people were happy to be photographed for the project, with the images included in a new book Fetish Ballad.

Aiming to capture the candid moments, he said he never judged but instead wanted to simply observe and understand.

MagLau

The photographer, from Belgium, said he wanted to capture the candid moments

MagLau

Mag Lau said he wanted to find the subtlety and tenderness in the fetish world

MagLau

The photographs were released as part of the photographer's new book, Fetish Ballad

MagLau

The black and white images were taken in an attempt to show what the alien world is like for those not part of it

MagLau

Many people were happy to be involved in the project, but Mag Lau said that the real challenge was to capture the candid moments

The experienced photographer said that while many of the people involved in the fetish world were perfectionist, he did not want perfection, instead aiming to simply capture the reality of the world many people did not understand.

He travelled across Europe, including to Brussels, Amsterdam, Paris and Berlin, as well as to Japan for the three-year project.

To gain entry into the parties, he often wore a badge, given to him by the hosts.